Shadows

Well that's just spiffy given that we can't know what is in the PMs except for what we are told by someone who might be lying. That just wasted half a day. You're getting "rolly-eyed". Anyway, you're only telling us this because the evidence clearly shows that you're the killer, we're on to you already. Stop playing outside the day topic, that's my job!

Yeah, take 2 or 3 dozen until we can make something out and just show them here. We'll wait. *taps foot and whistles* And while we're waiting, who stole that damn key? *waves the gun around* I want it, now!

Right. The neck print was a mark used by the old machines to identify front from back. With the new machines, it isn't necessary and since it never served any other purpose, it's gone. Yay for technology, it's one less bit of wasted chemicals to produce to pollute up the planet. Ultimately, if they can get the colour quality stable, which is an across-the-board problem no matter what factory is doing the producing, they'll please me. The switch to doing their own colour as opposed to buying the coloured pellets is the biggest quality issue TLG has (though I'm not always pleased with some of the newer sprue locations either). That's one reason I dislike seeing people focus on arm marks and neck printing when the bigger issue still exists. Oddly though, the new Forestwoman has better colouring than the old one, with the arms actually matching the print, where the old one didn't. Go figure.

What there specifically shows cheap quality? The arm mark is something we're going to have to get used to, it's likely to end up on all figures in the future and currently only identifies that the arm comes from a recent mould, it doesn't actually have any effect on quality. The plastic quality issues from the magnet sets appears to have been dealt with fairly well and at this point only ends up a little worse with red torsos, which fortunately this doesn't have.

That complicates things. We are clearly shown the murderer with the red epaulettes, uniform, shako and ... a sword. That is not a combination of elements that exists in any of us, moustache or not. Why does it seem like the fates are playing cruel tricks upon us with these misleading clues? *whispers* You know... the Commander there has red epaulettes and a sword and that sort of plain, smiling face. With his access to our supplies, he could disguise himself fairly easily and would look surprisingly like ... THE KILLER! Oh dear! (back to the old board of making drawings)

There are very few areas where I have bad things to say about TLG. US shipping service is one, and if you check the Bricklink forums where you'll find large numbers of sellers (the kind of people who order and need products to arrive undamaged), you'll see that it has been a widespread problem in the past. I haven't ordered in a couple of months and things did seem to be improving as of the last boxes, so one can hope it's been resolved, but it's always been a little bit of a gamble for me. That said, you can improve your odds by not mixing things. Single items usually arrive fine. Two large sets, especially if they aren't the exact same size, will often result in one with damage from the other one. Lots of small items has always given me some that are seriously crushed (impulse sets are the worst). As always, your results may vary and it would be good to get a current perspective on the situation, so if you do order, please report back and let us know. Good luck!

An interesting bit of 'information' at least, assuming we can be trusting it. If we can, you may remove two more names from the usual suspects as neither the Provost Guard or Sergeant would count as Privates, assuming I understand the clue we were receiving this morning from our poor Lt. So that leaves 9 (I am not so daring as to attempt to automatically remove myself from the list, nor will I remove you, I see no evidence to justify that). I will say that I sleep soundly at night, the sound sleep of an honourable man. I had a witness the first night who may speak for me, which would tend to provide proof that I am not the killer, but unless that proof is ultimately required, it will not be revealed to protect the honour safety of the other person. A gentleman does not kiss sleep and tell. Some of you may have witnessed others on particular nights and can mentally check them off your list. Perhaps we can find a way to eventually secure a consolidated list and therefore reveal the likely suspects for further scrutiny? Or, of course, this whole moustache clue may be a big fuzzy bunny fabricated under the nose of the deserters. I don't really know how to be sure of that, so let us keep all possibilities in mind. NOW you're all broken up a day late after it's been pointed out... Buck up, Princess. To return to an earlier comment... what does this mean? How was he to save your life when he could not save his own or count on you? It is confusing to my brain. I am making the 3rd replying to myselfs in a row, but they are the merging, so do not be confused. Why do you say he went inside? We are clearly capable of seeing with our own eyes that he was murdered outside. "Time for a nice night stride. I need some cool air. Especially after all this voting!" -Lieutenant Pellcan- Surprised, the soldier leaps towards the Lieutenant... "What are you doing out so late Private aaaaaaaaaaaargh!" Are my eyes making the deceiving, or are you?

But less slobber, unless I really like you.

To add one extra level to the question, the LEGO stores can use stickers, but if they have overstock, they sell it themselves and don't seem to return it to the warehouse, so there is really no way for you to get a set with a sticker unless it's an official warning type. Crushed boxes, on the other hand ... they've got those!

I love this review because it has so much more to offer than a simple, boring overview of the set with a few parts comments. It's full of drama and intrigue and questionable activities and pantslessness. A winner on so many levels, then to use a tan baseplate and get that back in the rotation, how can you go wrong? Now I just need a small pile of those baseplates somehow ... And yes, the lad does deserve ice-cream after being molested on the escalator.

I just center a 1x2 brick over it and tilt while pressing down. Never had a problem getting one to pop out. Yeah, it tempts you to flex the baseplate enough to make them tilt up a bit.

Nothing confusing happened, and it was just a playful nip. You'll know if I ever bite.

You were right, Sandy, I've got to stop drinking ... What? It's the picture? Oh, maybe a drink would help! Well, let's try to look at it anyway... treasure chests, a white ... a white ... a white ... um ... and a monkey humping a mast, or a monkey with a really huge johnson rod, or ... Waitress! Where's that drink I ordered?

That is a good question. I have not seen him, and isn't it odd that the brother of an innocent man would not speak up upon his death? Very strange to me. If I had a brother who I knew was innocent, I would fight to the death for him and certainly have something to say when he was killed. Pvt. Gale? Where are you? Ah! You are a sneaky devil making the words while I was making mine!

Staff Ranks: Admiral Governor Shipyard Master Moderator Regulator Corrected. Since this is the ranks topic, we wouldn't want anyone being confused into imagining that you're actual Eurobricks staff. We've been very clear about how that is a CP only position and not a staff one, haven't we?

Yes, this seems to be the most obvious possibility. If only we had someone who could protect in the night and they could guard the important officers, maybe we could stop these cowards one night. That is very scary news! Yes, we must carry on and keep up our strength and the sausages are all that have kept me going in these troubling times.

*waits to get flashed* What?

Sometimes I just don't have the words to comment... I was actually going to make the crow my Fabuland sigfig and couldn't find one with satisfactory nose paint, and now I see why. It's like the black swords and that amazing droid special set all over again.

Welcome back to the loving arms of the brick! You just named a couple of fine sets to give you a chance to build, a look at some of the current techniques, and pick up some nice parts assortments. The thing to remember is that in the end, you have to be true to your own style. Some of the things you see out there are absolutely amazing, but many use techniques that are completely alien to the average builder, even a current one. The modular buildings you mentioned will expose you to some of the newer ways of doing things without going to quite that extreme. Build them. Modify them. Explore them inside and out. Then try your own, but don't try to build things that look like what you've seen from other builders, try to build things that look like what you want them to, whether it's copying a real building or making something out of pure fantasy. In the end, the most important part of the creation is you, so make sure you're in there and just keep building and looking and learning. Have fun!

Sorry to disappoint, but there are actually more US members than anywhere else. So it isn't that you're outnumbered by country, it's that you're outnumbered by the fact that no one else would notice and mention it because it is correct. How's that for party pooping? Now that should be fixed! Thanks for noticing!

I am uncomfortable with the amount of voting and unvoting today, but more with the quiet accusations, the slurs said and then not backed up and retreated from hastily. It seems like maneuvering of the worst sort to me. I am sorry, Private Gale, but you have accused the Provost Guards and then retreated only to move on to our Lt., again without any presented evidence or even the slightest bit of circumstance to point at. It seems like the actions of one aiming for the leaders of our army, much as the cowards did last night in murdering our dear Captain Le Coq. Coincidence? I don't know, but given our situation, I see no alternative but to take the most carefully measured chance here, and that is you. Vote: Private Dan Gale / def

Finally, the sound of reason I am hearing, I agree completely. The problem is that I am not sure where we should take this vote now. I know that it is safest to maintain the privacy at this point concerning special roles some of you may hold, so instead of going down that path, let us review the open things. Is there anything that has been said in this day (or the last), that seemed particularly suspicionable to anyone? Maybe we can try to work from this in these few hours before the day ends. We do not want bad things to come from our Provost General if we fail to act.

Pirate ship in a room! Maybe this is like The Goonies and we have to sail out of here somehow! Har! There be treasure ahead! Though I don't recall the demons in that movie ... I also wish Diesel would take a step back, he's poking me with his, uh, sword.

Ah, you are so brave... with someone else's life. You have nothing to lose? And when you are found to be wrong and have caused an honourable man to lose his life, will you bravely stand next to die? I bet not, for you are the worst type of coward, the kind who is brave with the lives of others, others you hide behind. No, you will point fingers and say, "but they said it too!" and "oh no, we were wrong, oh well, too bad", all the while rubbing your filthy hands together in glee that you have another miserable day of life at the expense of another. Almost sounds like a deserter, doesn't it?

I've never managed a good set of inventory pics, though one day it'll happen. In SW, all I have are the unprinted versions of the Stormtrooper, black Stormtrooper, Rebel Pilot, Boba, Jango and the red Vader. At least as far as I can remember. There are a few more varieties in Castle, mostly unchromed dwarf, viking and knight helmets and such, plus the copper Troll crown. There are a lot of rare parts out there, far too many to even keep track of, let along try to collect. I'd be dead broke if it wasn't for some very kind people along the way (they know who they are ) and one day I'll show all of it on it's own rare parts website.